EJL Community Partners
Peninsula Jewish Community Center
Shalem: The Jewish Wellness Initiative of the PJCC
Shalem was created in 2012 by Embodied Jewish Learning and Rabbi Lavey Derby when he served as the Director of Jewish Life at the Peninsula JCC.
Jewish tradition has a great deal to offer anyone who seeks wholeness of body, mind, and spirit. Judaism’s wisdom, teachings, and practices support us to live flourishing, resourced, integrated, resilient lives with a joyful sense of balance and well-being. From ancient teachings to modern-day practices, we are encouraged to cultivate qualities— such as gratitude, joy, and thoughtful reflection— to enhance our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.
The program ran from 2012 until 2021 and it received the Kol Ha Kavod JCC Association Biennial Excellence Award.
Read this article by Julie Emden about the practice of Yoga and Jewish Wisdom as a portal to Wellness, and this article by Rabbi Lavey Derby about Jewish Wellness as a path to wholeness and well-being and the impact of this work upon students of all faiths.
Faculty included Rabbi Lavey Derby, Julie Emden, Tracey Green, Scott Green, Rabbi Hugh Seid-Valencia, Rabbi Laurie Matzkin and Tova Birnbaum.
Listen here for monthly meditations and embodied practices related to Middot/Character Traits that were created as part of this project.
Institute for Jewish Spirituality
Online Jewish Yoga Studio
Julie periodically offers classes with IJS’s online Yoga studio at the Institute’s YouTube Channel. You can view past classes with Julie by searching on her name!
Educating for a Jewish Spiritual Life
Julie served on faculty, with Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appel, Larry Schwartz and Rabbi Sam Feinsmith, for this three-year pilot for educators, staff, administrators, and youth at select Jewish day schools and summer camps. EJSL applies Jewish mindfulness practice to the project of Jewish teaching and learning by cultivating mindful Jewish educators and camp staff, revitalizing Jewish life for youth and adults at the selected pilot sites, and improving institutional culture. Participating pilot sites included: URJ Camp Eisner, Massachusetts; Camp Ramah, Northern California; Ramah Outdoor Adventure, Colorado; Jewish Community Day School, Massachusetts; Community Day School, Pennsylvania; andTemple Israel of Hollywood Day School, California. The program continues in an online format at this time.
MORE ABOUT EDUCATING FOR A JEWISH SPIRITUAL LIFE
Adamah - Isabella Freedman Retreat Center
Torah Yoga Summer Retreat into Our Spiritual Natures: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Space.
NEW SUMMER DATES! July 29 - Aug 4, 2024
Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, Falls Village, CT
With Diane Bloomfield, Sharon Epstein, Julie Emden, Lou Haber, Ashira Katz and Mark Russo
We will immerse into the 5 elements around us and within us, through the eyes of our Jewish sages and yoga practices. Each day we will draw from Torah Yoga teachings and the beautiful nature around us.
Together, through the study of ancient Jewish wisdom and the practices of Yoga with other guided activities, we will reveal and illuminate the Torah within our body, mind, heart and soul. All are welcome. No previous yoga practice orTorah study is necessary to participate and enjoy! Register and More Info coming soon
At The Well
Check out Embodied Jewish Learning's collaboration with At the Well and Rabbi Sarah Tasman in the creation of this Yoga for Passover Resource (p. 10) for the month of Nissan, used by Well Circles all over the world.